George Takei | The Complete Pioneers of Television Interview

This is, by far, the most interesting and informative of the Pioneers interviews. George’s candid willingness to share makes it a joy to watch!

[@mikewysko2268]

Enjoyed the informative interview. The stories of the internment of Japanese Americans was so depressing. On the positive, the fencing foil was definitely the better choice of weapons for that character. You know George had fun doing that scene. We'll done Mr. Takei!

[@mdstudio]

After reading the comments, I was expecting Takei to come off as bitter and complaining. I didn’t find that at all. He’s very intelligent, measured, and well spoken. The interview goes into some detail about how he and his family were wrongly thrown into internment camps. It’s not an insignificant event in his life and important for people to hear. Looking at the world today, with the hatred for people who are different than us in our own country, it doesn’t seem impossible that something like that could be rationalized and done again. I was also expecting a lot of bitching about Bill Shatner. It’s not in here. Takei is asked about working with Shatner and he doesn’t complain about him and gives him credit for his role. He does say that Shatner has a healthy ego but even Shatner would agree with that. It’s worth noting that, based on what Takei says about gay rights, that this interview was conducted at least seven years ago, before the marriage equality ruling by the Supreme Court.

[@TheTomasie]

The clarity. Just crushing. Turn off the volume and watch it again. You will have a much different aspect.

[@Jacqueline_Thijsen]

1. George talks about his early memories in a very dispassionate way and talks about how that treatment of Japanese Americans was objectively wrong in far more polite language than I would use. 2. Talks about growing up with a passion for acting and feeling very lucky for all the support he received from his parents and the chance to meet his heroes. 3. Talks about being cast as Sulu and how this was the very first Asian character on US TV that wasn't a caricature. And how he felt responsible for showing the public a good image of Asian people. Just like Nichelle Nichols did for black people. 4. Talks about William Shatner after being asked about him in fairly mild terms, most of which Shatner himself has said about himself. 5. Talks passionately about his profession and what he feels is needed to do his profession properly. Actually does a tiny amount of bitching about a fellow actor in a different show not even trying and making a caricature of the character. 6. Talks about the importance of same sex marriages for the people involved and being active in bringing that about. The comments: far too many people bitching about Mr. Takei bitching about the past 🤨

[@craigthistleton6403]

He is just simply a hero to every part of the human race! As a gay actor and singer, he has given me so much strength even into my mid-seventies, I have written a screen play that I am trying to get off the ground and recorded a CD in 2018 and 2 other songs on KZbin. He is my inspiration! Love him!

[@vassa1972]

Loved him on the original star trek series

[@jimwoods2180]

he's so resilient & joyful! :)

[@kryptych]

Stories like his MUST continue to be shared in all of their grizzly and grotesque detail. "Why? We know it was terrible, why do we need to be reminded of it?" 1. It's the truth, and the truth must be allowed to be told. 2. That's how we stay vigilant against our own prejudices and actually make a real effort to live up to the ideals we purport to follow. Until you travel to the stars, Mr. Takei, I'm glad to hear you tell your story... you ARE the Star Trek ideal - a better world, a more hopeful world.

[@captainharris8980]

11:30 I'm sorry you and your family went through that, Mister Takei. I truly am. I think the US is a better place from those darker time, but there is still much to improve upon.

[@tbecker97204]

Commander Sulu: *Live Long and Prosper*

[@tulinfirenze1990]

It's "Hikaru" Sulu, not "Haraku".

[@kr00zn]

@ 23:46 the screen title says "Haraku Sulu" Shouldn't it be "Hikaru"? Please verify your work. 🤨

[@isawicame4579]

That's what George would say

[@vvblues]

These comments are irritating. He’s not bitter. He’s sharing 1st hand knowledge of a terrible time in America’s racist history. He’s sharing to educate toe heads like the commenters. It’s not bitterness. Wake up from your white Disneyland. People of color have struggled since day one.

[@MsPepperbelly]

I have listened to a few of Takei's interviews and also do not find him bitter. But if he were bitter I wouldn't blame him one bit, he's earned it. I think he's disappointed in his country as we all who hear this should be. We should hang our heads in shame.

[@cathleanjohnson675]

He wil forever be "Sulu" on the original Star Trek, end of story..

[@garyfrancis6193]

This happened in Canada too in my province British Columbia. The Japanesecwere put into internment camps. Their homes and fishing boats were sold off. The government kept the money. They hsd to leave everything except what they could carry in two suitcases. You notice you don’t hesrvthis about Italian or German Cansdians or Americans. I comr from Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. The Victoria art gallery has one of the largest collections of Japanese wood block prints ( ukiyo-e) in the world. Many of them would be worth many thousands of dollars. Where do you think they got them? No one has ever asked. The Covid period

[@Mr-Security]

Great history. I am 70 so i can remember the difficult period. Sad to hear so many “uhs”. Other than that, great interview.

[@JustJay1281]

that's what happens when your use to reading a script, it would seem.

[@DarthHLT]

What the...?!? Most Videos from "Pioneers of Televison" had Time Chapters. Why does this Video suddenly does not have ANY Time Chaperts???? Not good, beacuse of missing Time Infos. UPDATE / PS.: Leonard Nimoy and William Shatners Videos got Chapters and these Videos were posted earlier. (It could be tha the Chanel decided to put Chapers in, later. That the First Videos the produced doesn't get / have Chapters, and then suddenly the Chanel decided to put in Chapters from this Moment on / from this Video forward, okay ... could be. BUT THIS VIDEO HERE with George Takei came out AFTER the Videos from Leonard and Bill... so that cannot be the explanation. Since his Video got out later. So what's going on? And yes it also could be that at a certain Point they decided to use Chapers / to put in Chapters, and then after some time, they chanced there mind again and went back to no-Chapters. But this ALSO cannot be the Chase since the Video that was posted later, since the next Video, the one with James Edward Olmos suddenly has Chapters again. Hmm...) Just saying, just Noticing. That's all

[@kendallevans4079]

Maybe so fools like you don't miss interesting content and zoom to the space monster parts

[@vassa1972]

Oh my LoL

[@lewisclark5694]

Anti Japanese sentiment was/ is of course terrible and horrid. But, I wish George would stop publicly trashing William Shatner.

[@paulhammons7077]

😅

[@johnpitchlynn9341]

George Takei...I am so very sorry you and your family was interned during WWII. The internment was and is a stain on American Honor. God bless and keep you and your always.

[@DouglasSpende-xm5kf]

This guy has a lot of hate for his country and William Shatner?!!!! The Japanese attacked us end of story! You are a great actor loved younas Sulu and in the Green Berets. This country! You say not your country!

[@lionheartroar3104]

I comprehend, but he's become to bitter to tolerate.

[@carlmalone4011]

Racist

[@noleeps]

Takei has become someone who hates those who.don't believe as he does. Wonder if he understands the irony?

[@kendallevans4079]

You don't even know what irony is. You must be about 23 years old

[@carlmalone4011]

Racist

[@billjenkins687]

It's all about discrimination and racism for George. That's his platform, among other subjects.

[@sandraoaks7887]

I just watched & enjoyed Robert Conrad’s interview & subscribed bc of it. I looked at all the others ones & will watch them all but this one & Goldbergs both who always seemed 2 b bitter & just spewed a lot of falsehoods. Why how r they “famous” I’ll never get. Very sad.

[@troybirch]

I try to keep an open mind. What did this guy say that was a "falsehood"? Did they really put people into these camps and take away their houses, or is that BS? I thought that was over in Germany- not here? Thanks.

[@carlmalone4011]

Racist

[@matthewh.9544]

He's done alot for Asian people in TV, but all this bitter crap with William Shatner is cringeworthy.. Let it go or keep it to yourself mate because I'm sure I'm not alone in wishing he'd shut up. Considering he moans about it all the time, he's had a pretty good career out of it, all next to William Shatner.

[@nonusbusinissus5632]

When someone starts to have a god complex thinking they represent their entire race, they have usually reached a point where they are borderline worthless as a human being. This sentence increases to gaslighting proportions when said person is nothing but a clown of an actor, repeating lines in entertainment flics. Takei lost the plot a very long time ago, he had a good career but failed as a human being three times over.

[@JR-pz6wx]

He comes across to me as a bitter man.

[@nonusbusinissus5632]

@@JR-pz6wx Im a bitter man too, but rationality and objectivity exist. People who fail to bridge their emotions via rationality are a failure as a human being. That is strictly my opinion, but regardless, i personally have very little respect towards someone who tries to penalize the entire world for his own internal problems.

[@johnmat4678]

I've seen Shatner in interviews asked to respond to George's attacks on his character. Shatner replied he rarely worked with him, had little interaction on the sets (if you examined the episodes there was minimal exchanges between the two), never socialized with him outside the studio. In the end Shatner asks, I'm paraphrasing here ... "What's this guys problem?"

[@troybirch]

Hey, sorry- this is all new to me. I know he was on the first Star Trek but how did he fail as a human being 3 times over? I googled him but can't find anything like you're talking about. What do you mean by "gaslighting"? Also, I asked someone else is the family being taken away to camps because they were Japanese not true? Because if that didn't happen that's total BS. But, if his whole family was taken out of their house and they were put in a camp because of their being Japanese, wow. Did that not happen? I think anyone would feel pretty upset to be put in a camp with their family because of their family race, don't you? Then if he talked about it it wouldn't be because he was King of the Japanese, but he'd be telling his story and the story of his parents and other relatives. Can you clear this up please? Thanks! and what is gaslighting?

[@carlmalone4011]

Racist